Virtually everyone is invited to volunteer in our schools. Once thought to be the province of parents, our schools are eager to involve the entire community including individuals, senior citizens, college students businesses, churches and synagogues, community groups and others in support of education.

Registration

Persons who volunteer in the schools will be asked to provide information and to select the types of volunteer activities in which they are interested. Volunteers are requested to use a school's designated computer to submit their registration on the WCPSS Intranet site or go to the WCPSS Customer Service Center at 3600 Wake Forest Road , Raleigh , NC and register on one of the designated computers for customers. Volunteers may update their registration at any time. Website registration is not possible for security reasons.

Once registration is submitted, a volunteer number will be assigned. The volunteer number may be provided on individuals reactivating their registration to eliminate duplications and quicken the clearance process. Registration in Spanish is also available.

The computer screen also provided a checklist of volunteer activities in all levels. Persons volunteering for Level 3 and 4 will be asked to provide additional information for a criminal background check; for example, driver's license, social security number, and addresses for residences during the last seven years.

Screening

Applicants for Level 2 or higher activities would take part in a school-led orientation. Applicants for Level 3 or higher activities would have a criminal background check. Any checks that indicate a criminal arrest are reviewed by WCPSS Central Services volunteer Administration.

Wake's advanced registration and screening system helps the school system stay informed through an ongoing link with the NC Administrative Office of the Courts. With the addition of the program's link in 2006, additional criminal background checks are not necessary with a volunteer's registration in activities for Level 3 or higher after the initial check is completed. Volunteers who have previously registered must reactivate their status if they plan to participate another year. Annual reactivation occurs after July 1 of every year.

Levels of Volunteer Activities

Level 1

• Activity takes place with supervision, in a public setting, and it involves little or no student contact.
• Public setting
• Staff or other adults can enter and observe at any time
• No solitary time with student
• Always within unbroken view of school staff or multiple adults

Examples : clerical work for teacher, telephone volunteer, media center volunteer, beautification volunteer, resource speaker

Level 2

• Activity takes place in the classroom or other group setting.
• Public setting
• Staff or other adults can enter and observe at any time
• No solitary time with student
• Always within unbroken view of school staff or multiple adults, but ability of staff to monitor volunteer's interactions with students is limited by own responsibilities or other factors

Examples : classroom assistant, field day volunteer, test proctor, front office helper, room parent

Level 3

• Activity involves direct contact with students under limited supervision by school staff
• Activity takes place in the classroom or other group setting.
• Could have solitary time with students of short duration.
• May be outside the view of school staff or multiple adults for brief periods.
• May involve access to confidential student information.

Examples : field trip chaperone, one-on-one tutoring outside the classroom, dance chaperone, club sponsor, health room assistant.

Level 4

• Activity allows unsupervised contact with a student on or off campus
• Private setting such in home or community
• Extended solitary time with a student

Examples : overnight field trips, tutoring, extended out-of-school activities, Communities In Schools volunteer, off-campus mentoring